Apparatus for unloading railroad-cars.



l. FJSILVA. MPARATUS ron UNLOADING RAILROAD CARS.

- kPILICATlON men JULY 20.1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTOR.

Patented J 11116 4, 1918.

AT RNEY 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented June 4, 1918.

J. F. SILVA.

' APPLICATION FILED JULY 20.1911.

APPARATUS FOR U NLOADING RAILROAD CARS.

J INVENTOR. %rlmmiez (fl/a2 A ORNIEY J. F. SILVA. APPARATUS FOR UNLQADING RAILROAD CARS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20,1911.

Patented June 451918..

1926850% 3 SHEETS-SHEET a INVENTOR.

JJayai/z [5 1" 7260 62 [he TTORNEY JOAQUIN FERNANDEZ SILVA, OF CENTRAL LUTGARDITA, CUBA.

APPARATUS FOR UN LOADIN G RAILROAD-CARS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOAQUIN FERNANDEZ SILVA, a citizen of the Republic of Cuba, and a resident of Central Lutgardita, Province of Santa Clara, Cuba, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Apparatus for Unloading Railroad-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for unloading railroad cars, and particularly to an apparatus whereby goods in bulk can be removed from the interior of box cars and other cars without necessitating the arrangement of movable platforms or the like on which the entire cars must be hoisted.

While the apparatus has been primarily designed for use in sugar mills, to transfer sugar cane, or other raw material arriving from the plantation, to a carrier on which this material may be conveyed to the plant itself, it is obvious that the apparatus may also be installed and used in other establishments.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus, comprising a stationary inclined platform and means disposed adjacent to this platform for maintaining a car on said platform under an angle at which the discharge of the contents of the car may readily be effected.

Another object of the invention is to combine with a device for retaining the car under a maximum discharge angle means for moving this retaining device together with the car, so as to guard the car against turning over.

Another object of the invention is to provide in combination with the inclined unloading platform a track for a retaining device adapted to support the retaining device and to hold this support against lateral displacement over the entire length of the platform.

In an actual installation of this apparatus the unloading operation for a number of cars, aggregating in their contents several hundred thousand pounds of raw material, has been elfected per day by two workmen only. Prior to this installation the expense for unloading the same kind and volume of material amounted to more than $32 per day. It should also be noted that the installation of the apparatus can readily be carried out by any of the modern plants for treating large quantities of raw or; half Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 4:, 1918.

Application filed July 20, 1917. Serial No. 181,802.

finished material, as most of these plants are necessarily located near railroad tracks, and as the apparatus merely involves the modification of certain portions of the switch yard or spur track, which in plants of this character is connected with the main road.

Other objects of the invention will be more fully understood from the following specification, reference being had to the faccompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus, including theunloading platform and the retaining device with its supports,

Fig. 2 is a rear View of the same,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, on the line AB of Fig. 1, the car being shown in dotted lines,

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of one of the retaining trucks,

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the same,

Fig. 6 shows, partly in elevation and partly in section, a detail of one of the attachment hooks for the chains,

Fig. 7 shows, in elevation, one of the bracketswhereby several of the rails for the retaining devices are supported,

Fig. 8 is a sectional view through the same 'on line CD of Fig. 7, and

Fig. 9 is a sectional View on line AF of Fig. 6 to illustrate the cross-section of the hook.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the invention comprises an inclined surface or platform 1, on which rails 52 and 3 are mounted, the distance between these rails corresponding to the standard gage or to the gage of that railroad system on which the plant is located.

' The inclination of the unloading surface 1 with-respect to the plane or straight surface on which the ordinary track (not shown) is laid, naturally varies in 'difierent portions of said surface. The surface rises from the level of the track at one end and gradually ascends from this end until it reaches a maximum angle of inclination, which is illustrated in Fig. 3, and from this portion of the platform having the maximum angle of inclination the angle gradually recedes again until at the other end of the unloading platform this platform or sur face merges into the plane on which the ordinary track is laid. The maximum grade of ascension and unloading angle may do pendupon'thecharacter of the goods and upon the weight of the loaded car'sto be handled.

Hence the unloading platform may be described as consisting-of three'portions: an ascending portion gradually rising fromthe level of-thetrack, not only in longitudinal direction, but also in lateral direction; an unloading portion on which the axis of the trackis. parallel to theaxis of theleveltrack of-the railroad system, whilea relatively steep grade is; present, measuring transversely to the tracks of the ordinary railroad system; and a descending portion. 1 generally resembling the ascending portion and effecting the gradual approach from the unloading portion to. the level ofthe ordinary track. From this descriptionv it will be understood that the unloading-platform in its entirety is not; a straight plane, but is, a

vsurface in which certain portions are askew withzrespect .to. each other. Thethree ortions of the unloading platformv descri ed (the 'middlelportion only being shown) may haveequal length, so that the unloading portion proper occupies the central third of the able laterial. 'Thesefp'illars, as; show-nin Fig. '3, of, the drawing, consist of slabs of concrete or the like extending transversely underneath the horizontal platform 5, :and provided with suitable passages to facilitate the inspectionof the lower surface of the horizontal platform and repairs when required It is obvious, 'however, that any other suitable support for the f horizontal platform may be selected.

Uprights 7, and 8; projectffromportions 0f the horizontal platform 5 near the. ends of the same and-serve'for supporting the ends of'a plurality of rails 9,10,11, and 12, which are disposed, horizontally and hence parallel to each other, pairs, the. upper rails. 9 andIO-haVing' thei'r heads directed towardeach other and the lower rails 11 and 12 also havingtheir heads directed toward each other, whil e the central rails 10 andll, as may be seenv from" 3, have their foot plates closely adjacent and directed toward each other. The upper rail 9 which may be secured at its ends to the uprights"? and 8 in any desirable Way, as, for ifist ntei y sp ke o o n in h drawing) ,is also supportedintermediate its end's'and near its ends by additional uprights 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17. These intermediary and'end'posts 13; to. 117 consist, as may be seen from Fig. 3, of an upper horizontal arm, to-the'lower face of whlch the "foot of the rail 9-is secured, and of a lower horizontal arm secured to the platform 5 by spikes 1,8.and 19, the two horizontal arms .horizontal arms of these rail supports.

Thetwo'central rails 10 and 11 are secured to these braces 20, 21, and 22 and also to the end posts 7 and 8. The support of these rails on -'the intermediate braces v20, 21, and 22 is effected by suitable holders or brackets, shown in detail in 'Figs. 7 and 8. Each of the brackets consists of two side plates 23, suitably recessedto receive, when placed face to face with the companion plate, the web'and foot portion of the rails 10 and 11, which rails. may be supported therein by bolts passing throughthe openings, 28, 29, 30, and 31; the two plates 23 of each bracket are held together and are fastened to the uprights 14, 15, 16 and 'brace s;20,,21, by bolts 24 inserted through open-ings25 in both oftheseplates. kSpac- 2m pipes-or sleeves 26 27, shown in Fig. 3, serve'for maintaining the brackets 23 at a suitable distance horizontally from the braces'21 and from the inclined portions of the uprights 14, 15, and"16';re spectively.

The lengths of the sleeves 26' are selected so as to bring the rails 10 and llheldby the brackets into one vertical plane with the parallel railsp'9 and 12, the first named one being secured to the top portionof the structure, while the second na111ed.rail'12}i'sfas tened tothe'top surface. ofthe horizontal platform 5. i 1

iThe rails 9 to .12 serve as guiding and supporting means for retaining devices or trucks 32 and 33. These retaining devices comprise the "wheels" 34', 35', 36, and "37;, which have flanges similar to those of the ordinary car wheels. "From Figs. 4"and 5 it will be seen that the upper pair of wheels 34and 35 is disposed between plates- 38 and 39, while the lower pair '36 and 37 isheld between the plates 40 and .41. *Theraxl'es 42 and'43 for the upper pair-of wheels, therefore,;extendrthrough the side plates 38 and wheelswhich are heldbetween these plates.

The upper structure, including a pair of wheels and a pair of side plates, is connected with the lower structure, composed of similar elements, by means of cross braces 46 and 47, fastened to the outer surface of the side plates 38 and 40, and through the ends of which the various axles 42, 43, 44, and also project. The rigidity of the structure is furthermore enhanced by the provision of a vertical brace 48, placed on top of the cross braces 46 and 47, and which connects the outer side plates 38 and 40, this brace 48 being secured near its center to the 1ntersecting portions of the dlagonal' braces 46 and 47. This upright brace 48 also carries near its center an eye or loop 49 for the attachment of a chain 50, the free end of which is provided with an articulated hook 51.

The details of this articulated hook are illustrated in Figs. 6 and .9. It consists of a bent shank having near one end an eye, through which the last link of the chain 50 is inserted, and having at the other end a pivot 54 projecting through a slotted terminal portion 55 of this shank. Theslotted end serves for the reception of the movable member 53 of this articulated hook, which may swing about the pivot 54 and which is of flat cross section to pro ect through a slot 56 in the shank 52 of the hook. An opening 57 near the free end of this movable member 53 serves for the reception of a pin 58 having an enlarged head, as shown in Fig. 6, whereby after the insertion of the pin through this movable member 53 a return movement of the movable member 53 through the slot in the shank 52 is prevented.

From Figs. 4 and 5 it will also be seen that the upper side plates 38 and 39 of the retaining devices or trucks 32 and 33 are provided with extensions 59, 60 and 6.1, 62 respectively, which project upwardly so as to be located adjacent the sides of the head of the rail 9, to form an additional safeguard against lateral movement of the upper structure with respect to the rails. This additional safeguard, however, is not absolutely necessary.

The side plate 39 of the rearmost truck 33 has an eye hook 63, to which a chain 64 is attached. The other end of this chain is secured on a drum 65, which is supported on the upright post 7 near the entrance end of the unloading portion of the platform. By means of a crank 66 connected with the drum the chain 64 may be wound on the drum 65.

The operation of the device will be about as follows:

The apparatus is installed adjacent to the spur track or some other switch track leading from the main road to the establishment or plant. The unloading portion of the platform 1 is located with its lower end in opposition to a conveyer platform or some other suitable conveyer device, diagrammatically indicated at 67 in Fig. 3. This conveying device serves for transporting the goods discharged from the car 68 to that part of the plant in which the material is to be used. The same mechanism or tractor which operates the conveyor 67 may also be used for gradually pulling, by means of suitable chains or the like, the car 68 from the level track (not shown) over the entrance grade of the platform lto the unloading portion having the angle of discharge, the chain 50 of the retaining device having been attached by means of the articulated hook 51 to an eye 69 on the side of the car, as soon as this car has assumed an angle which will facilitate the unloading of the same. After the attachment of the first truck 32 to the car 68, the second truck 33 will also be connected with the car. in the same manner, as soon as the car is in opposition to the second truck. The car is then fully advanced to the main or unloading portion of the platform 1, and when the car has reached this unloading portion, the angle of which has been de termined in accordance with the nature of the load mainly carried to the establishment, the doors can be opened and the unloading operation can be begun.

After the completion of this operation the empty car is moved over the descending portion of the inclined surface 1 to the point, where this surface again merges into the level of the ordinary track, and the hooks 51 are then unfastened from the eye bolts 69. In this movement of the car to the end of the platform the retaining devices 32 and 33 are also advanced in this direction, and a return toward the entrance end of the inclined platform may be efiected by operation of the crank 66, whereby the chain 64 is Wound on the drum 65. As this chain is attached to the second one of the trucks, it is obvious that the first one will be pushed in direction toward the drum by the rear truck 33. Shock absorbing bolsters 70 and 71 may be secured to the uprights 7 and 8 at the end of the horizontal platform 5.

I claim:

1. A trolley device for maintaining cars in unloading position on a dumping platform, comprising a plurality of parallel horizontal rails arranged in pairs, the rails in each pair being superposed with respect to each other and the pairs also being superposed-with respect to each other, and a retaining device movably carried on said rails and detachably connected with the car to be unloaded.

2. A trolley device for maintaining cars in unloading position on a dumping platform, including two superposed pairs of rails, a truck provided with wheels, some of the'wheels of'the truck being in permanent engagement with the rails of the upper pair,

and others of the truckbeing in permanent engagement with thera'ils of the lower-pair, and meansfor connecting thetruck with the-car to be unloaded on the dumping platdiary posts, brackets secured to said intermediary posts, said brackets holding said rails intermediate the ends thereof, a truck movably carried. by said rails, and flexible connectionsbetween said truck. and the car to be unloaded on'said platform.

4. A trolley dev'ice-for-retaining cars in unloading position on an inclined platform, including a plurality of rails parallel to each other and arranged in pairs,posts supporting the ends of said rails, additional posts, brackets carried by said additional posts, each of said brackets being adapted to support a pair of rails in superposition,

the upper rail "having the head directed upwardly and the lower rail having the he-ad directed downwardly, truoksmovably mounted on said rails, and flexible connections for holding the carsto be unloaded attached to said trucks. 5. A trolley device for retaining cars in unloading position on an inclined platform,

comprising: apair of superposed trucks, each truck having a plurality of wheels, side plates on each side of said Wheels and connectingthe wheels of each truck, elements located in a plane difi'erent from the plane of said wheels and said side plates for connectingthe trucks of each retaining device, 1

and flexible connections attached to the connecting elements.

' 6.*'In combinatlon with a horizontal platform, a plurality of horizontal rails mounted in superposition on said horizontal platform "and extending parallel to each other, retaining trucks movably carried by said rails, flexible connections secured to said trucks, and means mounted onone end of said platform for pulling said retaining JOAQUIN FERNANDEZ SILVA.

Copies of this patent maynbe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents i i washington' DiGP" 

